Fifth wheel foe vehicles



(No Model.,x

A. o. AMES.

FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES. 110.351.016. Patented 001. 19,1886.-

UNITED STATES ALBERT C. AHES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. H. SHEPARD, OF SAME PLACE.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

BPECFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351.016, dated October 19, 1886.

Application ilc d Marr-li 1Q, 1886.

To allwwm, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT C. Aims, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Vheels for Vehicles, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of thisinvention has been to provide a fth-wheel for the running-gear of vehicles that will accommodate itselt better to all undulations of the road without transmitting any strain to the wagon bed, that will dispense with the reach and allow the front axle to be turned short curves, and to have a free oscillation, at the same time providing a sufficient bearing-surface for holding the wagon-bed steady.

Hy invention therefore consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a sectional end elevation of the fifth-wheel; Fig. 2, a vertical cross section through its center; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 4 a plan View.

Corresponding letters in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

A denotes the bolster,and B the upper ringplate of the fifth-wheel.

C are corbels framed between the bolster A and ring-plate B, and D a spider-brace placed on top of thebolstenwith its arms secured upon the ring-plate, for forming a rigid connection between such bolster and ring-plate.

E is the sand-boardLinto which the hounds F are framed, and G is the bottom ring-plate of the fifth-wheel, secured upon such sandboard and hounds. Upon the sand-board E is also secured the male center-plate H, having an annular protuberance and an upwardly-projecting hub with a central hole,through which and through the bolster and spiderbrace is passed the king-bolt I, and against the bottom of bolster A is secured the female center-plate J, of corresponding shape with plate H. Brace-bars K, secured under the ends of the sand-board, each by a bolt, reach forward, and are secured with their opposite ends against the sides of the hounds.

Serial No. 195,024. (No model.)

L is the axle-tree, upon which is secured the saddle-plate M, having central nipple that euters a socket in the sand-board E, resting upon such saddle-plate.

Two pending arch-plates, N, are secured under the ring-plate G-one at each side of sandboard E-which arch-plates embrace the axletree L on both sides, and are connected below such axle-tree by a thin1b1e,co, and bolt b, and the lower portion of each such arch-plate is rigidly connected tothe hounds F by bracebars O.

To prevent wear of the axle-tree from chafing ofthe arch-plates, such axle-tree is plated with iron just behind such arch-plates.

Between the forward ends of hounds F is coupled the wagon-pole P by a bolt, d, and upon the top of such hounds is bolted the plate Q, having a central hole for coupling the whiffletree by the hammer-piu, and another plate, R, for securing the hammer-strap, both these plates Q and R serving at the saine time as supports for the wagon-pole. The front axle of a running gear thus connected with the bolster will not only provide for an easy turning on changing the direction of the vehicle, the king-bolt forming the pivot, and an easy bearing being given through the medium of the ring-plates B and G, and of the centerplates H and J, but also, on meeting-any obstruction, the axle-tree, with its saddle-plate, can oscillate laterally between the pending arch-plates to accommodate itself to the required angle, while at the same time such axle-tree is firmly held by the arch-plates vertically in position under the fifth-wheel against the thrust or pull of the horses on a longitudinal direction. rIhe entire device, as will be readily seen, thus forms a universal connection that provides ample bearings at every point of movement.

Vhat I claim is- 1. In a fifth-wheel` the combination of bolster A and -ring-plate B with intermediate corbels, C, and spider-brace D, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fifth-wheel, the combination, with bolster A, having ring-plateB, of sand-board E and hounds F, having ring-plate G, and of 100 center-plates J and H and king-bolt I, all

substantially as set forth.

3. In a fifth-wheel, the combination, with bolster A, sand-board E, houfnds F, intermediate ring plates, B and G, and king-bolt; I, of aXle-tree L, with saddle-plate M, and of pending arch-plates N, secured under the ringplate G and embracing the axle-tree L, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a flh-wheel for vehicles. the combination,with the lower ring-plate, G, secured upon sand-board E and hounds F, of axle-tree L, having saddle-plate M, and `of bwo pending arch-plates, N, secured under plate G at each side of axle-tree L, and connected below such axle-treebya Vishinnble and bolt, subsban tially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. In a frh-wheel, the combinatiop,with the sandfboard E, hounds F, andringplaie G, of pending arch plates N, secured under ringT plate G, to embrace the axle-tree, and being suitably connected below such axle-tree, and of bars O, connecting and bracing such archplates N, with the hounds E, snbstgantially as seb forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT C. AMES.

Wi bn esses:

ANTON -SCHOENINGEE ERNST HAMBURGER. 

